ST. LOUIS — Mark Teixeira still doesn’t believe his bothersome right wrist is a serious issue, but did admit to being disappointed the joint forced him to sit out a third straight game Wednesday.

“Not as much as I’d like. I was hoping I’d wake up this morning and feel nothing. There’s still some soreness in there,’’ Teixeira said when asked if there was improvement in the wrist on which he had surgery last season.

Teixeira, who last played Sunday in Chicago, will be examined by Dr. Keith Raskin Thursday in New York and will undergo an ultrasound, but an MRI exam isn’t planned. The Yankees are off Thursday.

“Not unless something is found. But I wouldn’t expect that,’’ Teixeira said of a possible MRI exam. “I hope not, obviously. Hopefully the extra day off tomorrow will help, and hopefully I’m back in there on Friday.’’

That would be fine by the Yankees who started catcher Brian McCann (2-for-4, RBI) at first base Wednesday for the first time in his big league career.

“There is still inflammation and a little sore so we didn’t put him in there,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of Teixeira before the Yankees’ 7-4 win over the Cardinals. “There is still some improvement but he still feels it.’’

Having started 15 of the previous 16 games (14 at short; one as the DH), Derek Jeter was not in Wednesday’s lineup. Brendan Ryan (2-for-4, one error) started for the fourth time at short.

“He understood what I was trying to do,’’ said Girardi, who usually gets pushback from Jeter when given a day off. “We are in a really long streak here.’’

After Thursday’s off day the Yankees play 17 games in 17 days.

Carlos Beltran will work with hitting coach Kevin Long Thursday at Yankee Stadium, participating in tee-and-toss drills. Beltran, who is attempting to play through a bone spur in the right elbow, took dry swings with a fungo bat Monday, dry swings with a regular bat Tuesday and rested Wednesday.

Beltran is eligible to come off the 15-day DL, but will likely need a few minor league rehab games if the injury allows him to get that far in the process. He is being treated with cortisone and if that doesn’t work there is a strong possibility Beltran is facing surgery that could shelve him for up to 10 weeks.

Shawn Kelley (lower back problem) threw Wednesday and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday. Michael Pineda will make a second outing Sunday in an intrasquad game in Tampa with the extended spring team.

If Pineda, who is on the disabled list with a strained teres major muscle in the back, comes through Sunday’s exercise without a problem he could be start a minor league rehab assignment soon.

MLB drug testers were in the Yankees’ clubhouse Tuesday and Wednesday and tested Ichiro Suzuki, who went 0-for-4, before the game.